RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
September 9, 2002
HEALTH AND SAFETY CALL FOR SCOTLAND MINISTER
Scotland Office Minister Anne McGuire MP will launch RoSPA's Scottish Health and Safety Congress on Wednesday (September 11).
The conference, in association with Scottish Power, will focus on the latest developments in the Government's plans to revitalise health and safety after 25 years of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Delegates at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on Wednesday and Thursday will hear that fresh ways must be found to address both new and long-standing occupational safety and health problems in Scotland.
Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: "This event is now established as the premier occupational health and safety conference in Scotland. It provides a unique opportunity for key players and influencers to network and share ideas.
"There will be a report on the progress in setting up the Scottish Health and Safety Revitalisers' Forum, which is helping to kick-start the whole process.
"Businesses have been challenged to set their own targets for improvements and we want to hear how they are managing."
He said it was vital that businesses worked together to overcome problems, otherwise, in addition to failing to avoid preventable suffering, they would continue to bear the massive financial burden associated with occupational accidents and ill-health.
In Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, failure to prevent injuries and health damage at work was imposing unacceptable costs on workers, their families and the wider community.
After the conference opens at 9.30am on Wednesday, speakers will look at the strategies and tactics that can help. On Thursday, they will share health and safety "success stories".
Paul Richardson, Road Safety Manager, Lothian and Borders Police will explain why "Good Driving is Good Business, and there will be sessions on changing corporate culture, insurance, employee involvement, mental well-being in the workplace and falls.
